Temples at Bishnupur, West Bengal | Temples at Bishnupur, West Bengal | | West Bengal | 1998 | (cultural) | The terracotta temples built by Malla kings of Bishnupur date to the 17th century. They were built in brick and laterite stone. They have characteristic sloping roofs. The Jor Bangla Temple, from 1655, is pictured. |
Mattancherry Palace, Ernakulam, Kerala | Mattancherry Palace, Ernakulam, Kerala | | Kerala | 1998 | (cultural) | The palace was built by the Portuguese for the local rulers around 1555. It is a two-storey building with several halls and a ceiling decorated with carvings in the coronation hall. |
Group of Monuments at Mandu, Madhya Pradesh | Group of Monuments at Mandu, Madhya Pradesh | | Madhya Pradesh | 1998 | (cultural) | This nomination comprises monuments dating from the 11th to the 16th centuries. They include rock-cut tombs and temples, mosques, palaces, and pavilions. The Jahaz Mahal palace is pictured. |
Ancient Buddhist Site, Sarnath, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh | Ancient Buddhist Site, Sarnath, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh | | Uttar Pradesh | 1998 | (cultural) | This nomination comprises two groups of monuments. The first group includes Buddhist temples, stupas (Dhamek Stupa pictured), and monasteries, as well as the remains of a pillar of Ashoka. They date from the 3rd century BCE to the 12th century CE. The second group is represented by the Chaukhandi Stupa, built in 1588. |
Sri Harimandir Sahib, Amritsar, Punjab | Sri Harimandir Sahib, Amritsar, Punjab | | Punjab | 2004 | iii, iv, vi (cultural) | Sri Harimandir Sahib, also known as the Golden Temple, is the spiritual centre of Sikhism. The temple complex was rebuilt several times. The architectural layout of the complex reflects the spiritual concepts of the religion. The main temple building is richly decorated with floral patterns, either painted or as marble inlay. |
River Island of Majuli in midstream of Brahmaputra River in Assam | River Island of Majuli in midstream of Brahmaputra River in Assam | | Assam | 2004 | ii, iii, v, vi (cultural) | Majuli is a large river island in the Brahmaputra River. There are over 200 villages on the island, inhabited by people from various ethnic origins. A characteristic concept of the region is the satras, institutional centres for cultural activities that also serve as democratic mediators for dispute resolution. |
| Namdapha National Park | | Arunachal Pradesh | 2006 | vii, ix, x (natural) | The national park covers an extensive wilderness area mostly covered in forests and sparsely explored. It is located in the Eastern Himalayas. The highest peak is Dapha Bum, at 4,571 m (14,997 ft). |
Wild Ass Sanctuary, Little Rann of Kutch | Wild Ass Sanctuary, Little Rann of Kutch | | Gujarat | 2006 | x (natural) | Little Rann of Kutch is a salt marsh with sparse vegetation, mostly with xerophytic species. It is home to the last wild population of the Indian wild ass (pictured). It is also an important nesting area for birds. |
Neora Valley National Park | Neora Valley National Park | | West Bengal | 2009 | vii, x (natural) | The area is covered by virgin forest and is a biodiversity hotspot. The valley spans from lowlands to altitudes around 3,200 m (10,500 ft), which results in a variety of habitats. It is home to several bird species and mammals, including the red panda and two species of pangolin. |
| Desert National Park | | Rajasthan | 2009 | vii, viii, x (natural) | The national park covers a part of the Thar Desert. It is home to several endemic species such as the Indian hairy-footed gerbil and the Rajasthan toad-headed lizard. It is also home to two endangered species of vultures. The Chinkara gazelle (Gazella bennettii) is a common antelope of this region. There are fossil beds in the park, dating to the Jurassic period. |
| Silk Road Sites in India | | Bihar, Jammu and Kashmir, Maharashtra, Puducherry, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh | 2010 | ii, iii, vi (cultural) | This nomination comprises 12 sites connected to the ancient Silk Road, a network of trade routes connecting China with the west. There were at least three corridors in India. In addition to the movement of goods, they were important in the spread of Buddhism and Greco-Buddhist culture. Sites in the nomination include the Roman trade port at Arikamedu, Vikramashila (pictured) and the early Buddhist site of Vaishali (the Relic Stupa). |
The Qutb Shahi Monuments of Hyderabad Golconda Fort, Qutb Shahi Tombs, Charminar | The Qutb Shahi Monuments of Hyderabad Golconda Fort, Qutb Shahi Tombs, Charminar | | Telangana | 2010 | i, ii, iii, iv (cultural) | This nomination comprises the monuments of the Qutb Shahi dynasty, a sultanate that ruled in the 16th and 17th century, in Hyderabad and its surroundings. The Golconda Fort is a citadel and early capital. Qutb Shahi tombs (two pictured) are mosques and burial places of the sultans, and Charminar, built in 1591, is a monumental gateway with four minarets. These sites illustrate the cosmopolitan nature of the region in that period. |
Mughal Gardens in Kashmir | Mughal Gardens in Kashmir | | Jammu and Kashmir | 2010 | i, ii, iv (cultural) | Mughal gardens were built in a style influenced by Persian gardens, particularly by the Charbagh layout, with terraces and fountains arranged around a central water channel, reflecting the Islamic concept of paradise. Six gardens are listed in the nomination: Chashme Shahi, Shalimar Bagh (pavilion pictured), Pari Mahal, Verinag, Achabal Gardens, and Nishat Bagh. |
| Delhi - A Heritage City | | Delhi | 2012 | ii, v, vi (cultural) | Delhi, as Lal Kot, was founded in 1060 as a capital of the Tomara dynasty. Later, rulers built subsequent cities on the site. Delhi was the capital of the Delhi Sultanate and an intermittent capital of the Mughal Empire. During the British rule, the capital was moved from Calcutta to the newly constructed New Delhi in 1911. The nomination lists the following areas of historical and architectural importance: Mehrauli, Nizamuddin Dargah (the tomb of the Sufi saint Nizamuddin Auliya), Shahjahanabad (pictured), and New Delhi. |
Monuments and Forts of the Deccan Sultanate | Monuments and Forts of the Deccan Sultanate | | Karnataka, Telangana | 2014 | ii, iii (cultural) | This nomination comprises the monuments of Deccan sultanates, dating between the 14th and 17th centuries, in four cities: Gulbarga, Bidar, Bijapur in Karnataka state, and Hyderabad in Telangana state. The architecture of the Deccan sultanates represents interactions between Islamic and Hindu influences. Some of the monuments in the nomination include the Bidar Fort (pictured), Jama Mosque in Gulbarga, and the Qutb Shahi tombs. |
Cellular Jail, Andaman Islands | Cellular Jail, Andaman Islands | | Andaman and Nicobar Islands | 2014 | iv, vi (cultural) | The jail was constructed in 1906 by the British, primarily to exile political prisoners to the remote archipelago. The architecture was based on the panopticon system, with radiating wings that were easy to monitor by a single guard. Jail cells were intended for individuals for confinement. The jail was infamous for the brutal treatment of inmates and is important in the history of the Indian independence movement. |
Iconic Saree Weaving Clusters of India | Iconic Saree Weaving Clusters of India | | Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Assam | 2014 | iii, v (cultural) | Sari, or saree, is a traditional attire of Indian women. Sari weaving required particular adjustments of the weavers' houses to accommodate looms and other devices for silk processing, resulting in a specific vernacular architecture. This nomination comprises eight clusters where sari weaving was and still is a major profession of the villagers. Different styles of saris are pictured. |
Apatani Cultural Landscape | Apatani Cultural Landscape | | Arunachal Pradesh | 2014 | iii, v (cultural) | Apatani people live in the Ziro Valley that is surrounded by high mountains of the Himalayas. They have a culture that is distinct from that of other tribes in the region, with traditional crafts and festivals. They practice wet rice cultivation and are careful in land management, which allowed sustainable agriculture for several centuries. The resulting cultural landscape reflects the ability of the tribe to make the adverse environment habitable. |
Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple, Srirangam | Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple, Srirangam | | Tamil Nadu | 2014 | i, ii, iii, v (cultural) | The Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple is dedicated to Ranganatha. It is the world's largest operating Hindu temple and is, in fact, a temple town, with inner enclosures constituting the temple and outer ones being used for settlements. There have been temples at the site for over two millennia; however, the key buildings standing today date to the time of the Vijayanagara Empire, from the 14th to the 16th century. The temple has 21 gopurams, which are richly decorated with paintings and sculptures. |
Monuments of Srirangapatna Island Town | Monuments of Srirangapatna Island Town | | Karnataka | 2014 | i, ii, iii, iv (cultural) | Srirangapatna, the river island in the Kaveri river, is an important pilgrimage site in South India. It has been continuously inhabited since the 12th century. The monuments on the island date to different historical periods, including the periods of the Hoysala Empire, Vijayanagara Empire, Kingdom of Mysore, and the British Raj. Most monuments date from the 16th to the 19th centuries and have elements of Hindu, Indo-Islamic, and British styles. The Ranganathaswamy Temple is pictured. |
| Chilika Lake | | Odisha | 2014 | ix, x (natural) | Chilika Lake is a large brackish water lagoon, fed by over 50 rivers and streams. It is an ephemeral environment, with the river sediments being deposited to the Bay of Bengal. Different parts of the lake are freshwater, brackish, and marine ecosystems and are an important habitat for birds and mammals, including the endangered Irrawaddy dolphin. The lake is rich in fish species that support the local fishermen population. |
| Padmanabhapuram Palace | | Tamil Nadu | 2014 | iii, iv (cultural) | The palace in Padmanabhapuram was constructed in the 16th century, with later additions continuing into the early 19th century, to serve as the seat of the Travancore royal family. It is a masterpiece of traditional timber architecture decorated with murals and carvings. Murals depict Hindu mythology and secular themes. |
Sites of Satyagrah, India's non-violent freedom movement | Sites of Satyagrah, India's non-violent freedom movement | | several sites | 2014 | iv, vi (cultural) | Satyagraha, a form of nonviolent resistance or civil resistance, was developed by Mahatma Gandhi in the first half of the 20th century, as a part of the Indian independence movement. The nomination comprises 22 sites across India related to the movement. Several sites are ashrams (Sabarmati Ashram pictured), founded by Gandhi to teach his philosophy. Other sites are related to the independence movement. Satyagraha theory was influential in the civil rights movement in the United States and in the fight against apartheid in South Africa. |
Thembang Fortified Village | Thembang Fortified Village | | Arunachal Pradesh | 2014 | ii, iii, v (cultural) | The village of Thembang is located in the Eastern Himalayas at an altitude above 2,000 m (6,600 ft). It is built as a dzong, a type of fortified monastery also found in neighbouring Bhutan and Tibet. It is inhabited by the Monpas and was constructed before the 12th century. |
| Narcondam Island | | Andaman and Nicobar Islands | 2014 | viii, ix, x (natural) | Narcondam Island is a volcanic island off the main chain of the Andaman Islands. It is composed mostly of andesite, dacite, and amphibole, types of volcanic rocks and minerals. The island provides an important example of evolutionary processes due to its isolation. It is the only place where the endangered Narcondam hornbill (pictured) is found, and it is also home to several endemic species of the Andaman Islands. |
Ekamra Kshetra – The Temple City, Bhubaneswar | Ekamra Kshetra – The Temple City, Bhubaneswar | | Odisha | 2014 | i, ii, iii (cultural) | Ekamra Kshetra is the name of the old part of the city of Bhubaneswar. It is a holy city and has earned the nickname "Temple City" due to about 700 temples that once stood here. The temples were built between the 3rd century BCE and 15th century CE. They are built in the Kalinga style, and belong to Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain religions. The Lingaraja Temple is pictured. In addition to the temples, there are also Udayagiri and Khandagiri Caves built by Jain worshipers. |
The Neolithic Settlement of Burzahom | The Neolithic Settlement of Burzahom | | Jammu and Kashmir | 2014 | ii, iii, v (cultural) | The archaeological site at Burzahom has provided information about different stages of societal development from the 4th to the 2nd millennium BCE. People initially lived in pit-houses and later built houses of mud and brick. There are also remains of megalithic structures. Material remains excavated at the site hint at interactions with cultures of Central and South West Asia. A painted pot from 2700 BCE is pictured. |
Archaeological remains of a Harappa Port-Town, Lothal | Archaeological remains of a Harappa Port-Town, Lothal | | Gujarat | 2014 | v (cultural) | Lothal was the only port-town of the Indus Valley civilisation, or Harappan Civilization, from the Bronze Age. It was occupied from around 2400 BCE to 1600 BCE when it was likely damaged by tidal flooding. The settlement consisted of a citadel with wide streets, a warehouse, and a port area along the river. Remains found at the site demonstrate trade links with the Persian Gulf region. The remains of drainage channels are pictured. |
Mountain Railways of India (Extension) | Mountain Railways of India (Extension) | | Maharashtra, Himachal Pradesh | 2014 | ii, iv (cultural) | This is a proposed extension of the existing World Heritage Site. It includes the Matheran Hill Railway (pictured) and the Kangra Valley Railway. They were built in the early 20th century; construction involved technical innovation to overcome difficult mountainous terrain. |
Chettinad, Village Clusters of the Tamil Merchants | Chettinad, Village Clusters of the Tamil Merchants | | Tamil Nadu | 2014 | ii, v, vi (cultural) | This nomination comprises 11 villages in three clusters. Wealthy merchants built them in the second half of the 19th and early 20th centuries. The villages mix urban and rural influences, both Tamil and those from a broader region, as a result of the travels of the merchants in Southeast Asia. Thousands of palatial houses were built using local and imported materials. The most recent ones, built in the 1930s and 1940s, are in the Art Deco style. An example of a palatial house is pictured. |
Bahá'í House of Worship at New Delhi | Bahá'í House of Worship at New Delhi | | Delhi | 2014 | i, v, vi (cultural) | The Lotus Temple is the main Baháʼí House of Worship in India. It was inaugurated in 1986. It has the shape of a lotus flower, with petals made of concrete and covered by marble. |
Evolution of Temple Architecture – Aihole-Badami-Pattadakal | Evolution of Temple Architecture – Aihole-Badami-Pattadakal | | Karnataka | 2015 | iii, iv (cultural) | This nomination comprises several temples in Aihole, Badami, and Pattadakal, that were built between the 6th and 8th centuries under the Chalukya dynasty. They demonstrated the evolution of Hindu temple architecture with rock-cut and free-standing temples and were influential in temples built in later periods. The temples at Pattadakal are already listed as a World Heritage Site. The Durga Temple in Aihole is pictured. |
Cold Desert Cultural Landscape of India | Cold Desert Cultural Landscape of India | | Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh | 2015 | iii, v, vi, x (mixed) | The landscapes in the Himalayas are characterized by high altitudes, between 3,000 m (9,800 ft) and 5,000 m (16,000 ft), and harsh dry weather and temperatures ranging from above 30 °C (86 °F) in summer to below −30 °C (−22 °F) in winter. Two areas are inhabited, the Ladakh and the Spiti Valley. The culture is a mixture of Indian and Tibetan cultures. Several settlements are linked to Buddhist monasteries (Key Monastery pictured). From the natural perspective, the area is home to endangered species such as the snow leopard, Tibetan antelope, and the Himalayan wolf. |
Sites along the Uttarapath, Badshahi Sadak, Sadak-e-Azam, Grand Trunk Road | Sites along the Uttarapath, Badshahi Sadak, Sadak-e-Azam, Grand Trunk Road | | several sites | 2015 | ii, iv, vi (cultural) | The Grand Trunk Road is one of Asia's oldest and longest roads. It connects Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh. The road has been used at least since the times of the Maurya Empire in the 4th century BCE, has been reconstructed several times in different periods, and has been upgraded to modern traffic in the 20th century. In addition to trade, the road has been instrumental in the spread of ideas, religions, and culture. Several historical sites have been preserved along the road. The Kos Minar, a milestone, in Ambala is pictured. |
Keibul Lamjao Conservation Area | Keibul Lamjao Conservation Area | | Manipur | 2016 | v, vii, ix, x (mixed) | Loktak Lake is a large freshwater lake that features a unique type of ecosystem called phumdi, floating islands consisting of soil and vegetation. The area is a mixture of aquatic, wetland, and terrestrial habitats, and is home to sangai, an endangered deer species. There are several villages on the shores of the lake, as well as some settlements on the phumdis. |
Garo Hills Conservation Area (GHCA) | Garo Hills Conservation Area (GHCA) | | Meghalaya | 2018 | v, vi, viii, x (mixed) | Garo Hills (Pictured) are inhabited by the Garo people, a tribe that speaks a language from the Tibeto-Burman family. They practice slash-and-burn agriculture regulated by community rules to ensure sustainable land use. The area is interesting from a geological perspective, with the terrain being shaped by the India–Asia collision system. The area is home to Asian elephant, gaur, clouded leopard, sambar deer, and five species of civet. |
The historic ensemble of Orchha | The historic ensemble of Orchha | | Madhya Pradesh | 2019 | ii, iv (cultural) | The town of Orchha was founded in the 16th century by the Bundela clan to serve as their capital. In the following century, it came under Mughal influence. The architecture of the fort complex, palaces, temples, and gardens represent a mixture of styles from Rajput and Mughal architecture. The Jahangir Mahal is pictured. |
Iconic Riverfront of the Historic City of Varanasi | Iconic Riverfront of the Historic City of Varanasi | | Uttar Pradesh | 2021 | iii, iv, vi (cultural) | Varanasi is a holy city of Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism. More than 80 ghats (steps to the river bank) are located along the Ganges, the holy river, and serve as a place for rituals and festivals. Varanasi has been continuously inhabited since at least 1200 BCE, while the earliest stone ghats date to the 14th century. Palatial buildings, temples, ashrams, and rest houses for pilgrims date to the 18th and later centuries. The Ahilya Ghat is pictured. |
| Temples of Kanchipuram | | Tamil Nadu | 2021 | iv, vi (cultural) | Kanchipuram was the capital of the Pallava dynasty from the 6th to the 9th century. It is a holy Hindu city which used to have hundreds of temples. The architecture marks the shift from rock-cut temples to free-standing structures. 11 temples are listed in the nomination. The Ekambareswarar Temple is pictured. |
Hire Benakal, Megalithic Site | Hire Benakal, Megalithic Site | | Karnataka | 2021 | iii, iv (cultural) | Hire Benakal is the largest megalithic site in India. The dolmens date to the 1st millennium BCE to the Iron Age and provide information about the culture that constructed India's first large-scale monuments. Rock paintings have also been discovered on site. Depictions of human figures, riders, and animals date roughly from 700 to 500 BCE, while some paintings are older, from the Mesolithic. |